Alpine Larder, Crackenback (Thredbo)

Alpine Larder, Lake Crackenback

The style: Alpine Larder is rustic, warm, cosy and charming. There is a raging fire in the winter, high ceilings, warm timber and beautiful stone walls. If you visit on a snow day, its a great place to sit and eat comfort food while you watch the flakes fall. When the weather is fine, there is some outdoor seating so you can eat in the fresh mountain air. 

The taste: Alpine Larder's menu offers a range of tapas, pasta, burgers and wood fired pizzas. "Gourmet' pizza can sometimes go horribly wrong but the Alpine Larder hit the mark with a great dough and generous, scrumptious toppings. The Alpine Larder supreme was my pick and was perfect. Alpine Larder offers some vegetarian options too.

Pizza at Alpine Larder, Thredbo

The service: The day I visited was super busy in the height of winter but the staff managed to stay polite and delivered the food pretty efficiently considering the number of people they were looking after. Best to call ahead for a reservation especially if you are visiting in peak season.

The price: Prices for lunch ranged from $15-$22 with desserts around the $12-$14 mark.

The location: Alpine Larder is located within the Novotel Lake Crackenback complex off the Alpine way between Jindabyne and Thredbo. Parking is available near Alpine Larder.

Useful links:Alpine Larder menus

The interior at Alpine larder, Thredbo

Aldo's Cafe, Perisher Valley, NSW

The Godfather pizza, Aldo's Cafe, Perisher

Aldo's Cafe looks unassuming from the outside but don't be put off! The food here is delicious, the views are great and the atmosphere is relaxed. Aldo's dishes up a mainly Italian menu but there are a few little surprises in the mix as part of their Aldo's Lights (tapas style) menu.


The pizza at Aldo's is mouth wateringly good with toppings to suit every palate from the simple ham and pineapple through to the Godfather. I have tried a few now and haven't been disappointed yet. As well as the pizza and tapas, there are also pasta, risotto and fish dishes on the menu.

Mussels, Aldo's Cafe, Perisher

Aldo's is licensed with a selection of beer, wine, spirits and cider on offer. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available throughout the winter season but it can get busy during peak times and lunch bookings aren't taken so plan ahead so you aren't left waiting for too long.


Aldo's Cafe is located on the upper level of the Perisher Ski Tube Terminal.


Useful Links:


Aldo's Cafe Website (includes a full menu).
Perisher Resort

The view from Aldo's Cafe, Perisher

Esco Pazzo, Mittagong

Esco Pazzo, Mittagong

The style: Esco Pazzo Italian Restaurant is located in a historic building with exposed brick walls, black and white photgraphs and huge glassed areas overlooking a garden. It is cosy and simple creating an inviting atmosphere without trying too hard. The only real negative with the decor is the tacky paper tablecloths.

Esco Pazzo, Mittagong

The taste: The a la carte menu specialises in Roman Italian cuisine and includes wood fired pizzas, pasta, risotto as well as various main meals including quail, veal, steak and lamb. There is also a daily specials board which is where I found the veal with tomato, anchovy, olive and caperberry sauce. The food here is truly spectacular and it isn't hard to see why Esco Pazzo has been a regular on the Sydney Morning Herald's Good Food Guide over the past few years.

Veal in a tomato, anchovy, olive and caperberry sauce, Esco Pazzo, Mittagong

Roma Pizza - mozzarella, sliced potato, pork sausage, rosemary and olive oil; Esco Pazzo

The price: Antipasti range from $13.50 - 19:50, Pasta from $14.00 to $18.00, Secondi from $23.50 - $28.50 and Pizza from $12.90 - $20.00. The pizzas were very generously sized. To view Esco Pazzo's menu, click here.

Esco Pazzo, Mittagong

The location: Esco Pazzo is located at 84 Main Street, Mittagong. Mittagong is at the northern end of the Southern Highlands in NSW about two hours northeast of Canberra and one and a half hours south west of Sydney.

The Sir George Tavern, Jugiong

The Sir George Tavern Jugiong

The Style: The Sir George Tavern in Jugiong is famous as being the oldest family run pub in Australia. Stepping inside is like walking back in time with the sandstone walls, antique photographs, velvet lounges and fireplace. There are some quaint touches like books above the mantelpiece and bowls of local fruit on the bar. The Sir George offers German-style beers brewed in nearby Canberra including their own blend, "Jugiong Black" alongside more traditional favourites. The best place to sip these in summertime is on the verandah at the front of the pub which looks over the Jugiong countryside towards the Murrumbidgee River. In the icy cold, foggy Jugiong winters, the couch near the fireplace is preferred.



The Sir George Tavern, Jugiong

The taste:The menu at the Sir George isn't huge with a focus on pizza but this doesn't let the restaurant down. The pizzas are made on fantastic 'real' dough with topping combinations including rocket pancetta and olives, chicken, spagnola, rocket, fetta and beetroot, Hawaiian and margarita. Everything about the pizzas hits the right note - the dough, the sauce and the toppings are delivered in just the right ratio and the flavour is on a par with anything you would find in a big city. The size of the pizza isn't huge so order one per person to make sure you don't go home hungry.

The price: The boutique beers aren't cheap at $7 per pint. The pizzas range from $12 - $14.

The service: Service at the Sir George is friendly without beingover the top. In quiter times, the staff are happy to have a chat and make you feel welcome.

The crowd: The Sir George Hotel's location just off the Hume Highway halfway between Sydney and Melbourne guarantees an ecclectic mix of passers by as well as locals.

The location: Jugiong is located just off the Hume Highway 40 minutes from Yass.The Sir George Hotel can't be missed at the end of the main road.